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Request to the Education Authority for a statutory assessment of special educational needs (Northern Ireland)
Northern Ireland · in English · for parents
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Made for use in Northern Ireland
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For a parent in Northern Ireland who believes their child has, or may have, special educational needs the school cannot meet from its own resources. A request to the Education Authority for a statutory assessment, the step towards a statement of special educational needs: it sets out your reasons and evidence, asks for the decision within the time limits that apply, and asks for reasons and your appeal rights if the Authority refuses. Posted first class; the Education Authority also has a free online form. Sold blank, as it holds a child's health data.
- Made for use in Northern Ireland
- Last updated October 29, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- Your child is falling behind at school in Northern Ireland and the school's own support is not enough.
- Your child is autistic and you want the Education Authority to assess their needs for a statement.
- The school keeps telling you to wait, and you want to ask for a statutory assessment yourself.
- You want to request an SEN assessment by letter, with the reports you have gathered.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Sender
- Sender's address
- Town or city
- Sender's postcode
- Date
- Recipient
- Recipient's address
- Recipient's postcode
- Child's name
- Child's date of birth
- School
- Grounds
- Phone
- Attachments
Common questions
- Who can ask the Education Authority for a statutory assessment in Northern Ireland?
- A parent or carer, or the child's school, can ask the Education Authority in writing; you do not need the school's agreement. The Education Authority has its own free online request, which you can use instead of, or as well as, this letter. SENAC, the Special Educational Needs Advice Centre, gives parents free advice on gathering evidence, such as reports from the school, a doctor, a therapist or a psychologist.
- How long does the Education Authority take to decide on an assessment?
- Northern Ireland's special educational needs framework is being changed in stages under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, so older guides may give time limits that no longer apply. The Education Authority's letters set out the steps and dates that apply to your child, including when you can add your views; keep them, as the decision letter also starts the time for any appeal.
- What if the Education Authority refuses to assess my child in Northern Ireland?
- It must give you its reasons. You can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal, free, within two months of receiving the decision. Alongside, the Education Authority's Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Service offers free, independent help to settle the disagreement, and using it does not stop you appealing. SENAC gives free advice on appeals.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
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